IRISH SIEGER SHOW - Page 3

Just back from the Irish Sieger show where we experienced “triumph and disaster” in almost equal proportions! Our disasters started with Orlando’s urinary problem, which meant he had to stay at home, continued with Carsten’s injured knee (our German friend, handler and breeder of Orlando), Alyson’s bad cold (meaning she had totally lost her voice), missing the protection practice workout, culminating in the car breaking down as we collected Carsten & Brigitte from Dublin airport. It’s at times like these that you find out just how wonderful people can be. We cannot thank John and Pauline Cullen enough for trekking out to Dublin airport, rescuing Alyson, Xambi and Buffy in the dead of night and transporting them via Swords to pick up a non-existent hire car back to the hotel. Then John and Sue Worley emptied sections of their trailer for Xambi and Buffy to sleep in – we owe them a huge debt as well. Caroline Woods provided Xambi with a bed in her van when Sue and John went home. People were just so great it was fantastic. And the rest? Well, it was a wonderful Sieger for us obviously, with Buffy going Vice Siegerin in the Junior class and of course our much loved Xambi becoming the first VA female bred and qualified in these islands as well as becoming Siegerin. We loved doing the protection work, and really must congratulate all those who participated – particular admiration for Sue Worley who worked first with Xandro and put in a cracking round, and Sam Hall, who worked two females, Italia and Bara. While Italia acquitted herself very well, sadly Bara took a fall and ended up injured – our sincere condolences Sam, we know you put a lot of work into preparing for this event, and it’s the sort of thing every person involved with protection work dreads. Congratulations too to all those who took place and qualified their dogs indeed to all class winners, but special mention fellow Brits:- the Davies’ with Silverleigh Esto (SG1 – Yearling Dog) to John and Pauline Cullen with Veneze Bree (SG1 Junior Bitch), Helen Bibby with Silkenwood Sabine (VV1 Puppy Bitch) You have to admire the courage and conviction of the GSA, who have taken the bull by the horns and enabled us to compete on equal terms with our European fellow GSD lovers. It was a ground breaking event, and we are proud to have been there. Alyson & Carol ANTILLI GSDs

A report, partial results and critiques and some photo's are now up on the German Shepherd Association of Ireland website. http://www.gsaireland.com/a_page1.asp?p=1&r=91&t=1

Well done to all at the Irish Sieger show - it was my first visit and it is well worth going to see! Re : Antilli Xambi - well done to the team - you know my thoughts! A multi purpose, top female - I look forward to seeing her produce! Photographs from the day are excellent and i'll be sending them to GSA shortly! Special mention to Gayville GSD for a truly successful time - particularly to Sam who recovered from the disappointment of the bitework with her girl to enjoy great success with the rest of the gang! Jo x

Having just re-read our post above - we have just realised two very glaring omissions from our comments. When we said thank you to all our friends who helped us, we left one very, very important person out - Natalie Jarman. Natalie not only helped us prepare Xambi & Buffy for the show, but travelled with us, helped raise assistance when the car broke down, looked after all of us (including the dogs) before, during and after the show, helped double handle (she's a whizz with the tooter!!) and to cap it all drove us all the way home in our hired car - how could we have omitted you Natalie, thanks for all your help - not only on this occasion but all the time . We also meant to say a huge big congrats to the wonderful Champ who was Sieger for the third time running - this time with the added Kudos of VA - handled to perfection in the bitework by Cedric and in the show by Victoria. Father of our own Orlando, we were thrilled by his success.